Can There Be A New Chapter For Greek and Turkish Cypriots?

Cypriots of Greek and Turkish have been getting ready for negotiations on reintegrating their island. The United Nations has requested that they sort out not how to share forces, an area, and assets. But rather whether they need a common future by any means.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the UN will regulate three days of casual conversations between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders. The talks will begin in Geneva from Tuesday this week and will be joined by Cyprus’s guarantors. This would include foreign ministers of Turkey, Greece, and the United Kingdom which was the previous colonial ruler.

According to UN Secretary-general, the reason for the gathering will be to decide if any mutual ground exists with respect to the Cyprus problem. It is to analyze whether there exists an enduring answer for the Cyprus issue within a foreseeable perspective.

Cyprus divided back in 1974 when Turkey took over its northern third in light of an overthrow that tried to add on the island to Greece.

Since 2004 three endeavors at reconsolidation have fizzled and the latest in 2017 at the Swiss retreat town of Crans Montana.

In October last year, Turkish Cypriots chose Ersin Tatar as president. Tatar had expressed that time had come to abandon forming a bizonal, bicommunal alliance, which was the objective of the UN for many years.

All things being equal, Tatar says, Cyprus should part into two states. This position is agreed by Ankara as well.

However, these views of Tatar and Turkey are in direct contradiction with those of Greece and Cyprus.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister in his meeting earlier with Nikos Anastassiades, Cyprus President had expressed the idea of one unit.

The Greek Prime Minister had stated that the solution to the divide was that from nationality to international representation to sovereignty become one. He had even recommended withdrawal of ruling armies and closure of the Treaties of Guarantee.

The Treaty of Guarantee was entered into by Turkey, Greece, the UK, and Cyprus. The deal banned Cyprus from taking part in political and economic alliances with any other country.

In 2004 Greek-speaking Cyprus became part of the European Union as a member. However, according to Cyprus and Greece, the treaties of 1960 are not compatible with the autonomy of an EU member.

It is the EU, they say, which presently ensures the privileges of the Turkish Cypriots while rendering the conquering armed forces pointless. They have proposed a strategy in which Turkish Cypriots would have a say if any law or choices encroach on their inclinations.

Turkey unwaveringly has wanted its forced to be kept in place and the Treaty of Guarantee unharmed. Now given its military existence and other new progress, some are of the opinion that it is Turkey that holds the key to a solution.